Abstract:

A haptic feedback device for a portable terminal. The haptic feedback
device includes an input member, a vibration member that passes through
the input member, and serves as a rotation axis of the input member, and
a piezo actuator in contact with the vibration member. As the input
member rotates or pivots with respect to the rotation axis, the piezo
actuator actuates to vibrate the vibration member.

Claims:

1. A haptic feedback device for a portable terminal, the haptic feedback
device comprising:an input member;a vibration member that passes through
the input member, and serves as a rotation axis of the input member; anda
piezo actuator in contact with the vibration member,wherein as the input
member rotates or pivots with respect to the rotation axis, the piezo
actuator actuates to vibrate the vibration member.

2. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the vibration member
vibrates in a straight-line reciprocating movement along the rotation
axis.

3. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the input member
comprises a disc-shaped jog dial that rotates with respect to the
rotation axis, a portion of a circumference thereof is exposed through a
side surface of the portable terminal.

4. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the input member
comprises a disc-shaped wheel key installed on a surface of the portable
terminal.

5. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, wherein the input member
comprises a navigation key installed on a surface of the portable
terminal.

6. The haptic feedback device of claim 5, wherein the navigation key
comprises a 2-way key that pivots with respect to the rotation axis.

7. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, further comprising a stopper
located at an end of the vibration member,wherein the piezo actuator is
located at an opposite end of the vibration member and the input member
is guided by the vibration member to perform straight-line movement
between the piezo actuator and the stopper.

8. The haptic feedback device of claim 7, wherein the input member rubs
against the stopper when rotating or pivoting.

9. The haptic feedback device of claim 1, further comprising:an encoder
for sensing rotation or pivoting of the input member; anda controller for
generating a control signal according to the rotation or the pivoting of
the input member sensed by the encoder,wherein the piezo actuator
vibrates the vibration member in response to the control signal.

10. The haptic feedback device of claim 9, wherein the control signal
comprises a pulse width modulation signal that changes a width of a
vibration of the piezo actuator.

Description:

PRIORITY

[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a
Korean Patent Application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property
Office on Dec. 12, 2008 and assigned Serial No. 10-2008-0126617, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002]1. Field of the Invention

[0003]The present invention relates generally to a portable terminal, and
more particularly, to a haptic feedback device for a portable terminal,
which provides a haptic feedback function to an input device of the
portable terminal such as a jog dial, a wheel key, a 2-way key, etc.

[0004]2. Description of the Related Art

[0005]Haptic feedback, often referred to as simply "haptics", is the use
of the sense of touch in a user interface design to provide information
to an end user. When referring to mobile phones and similar devices, this
generally means the use of vibrations from the device's vibration alarm
to denote that a touchscreen button has been pressed. In this particular
example, the phone would vibrate slightly in response to user activation
of an on-screen control, making up for the lack of a normal tactile
response that the user would experience when pressing a physical button.

[0006]It is also common for a touch-screen phone to include a jog dial, a
wheel key, or a navigation key for, e.g., menu search. However, the jog
dial, wheel key, or navigation key, is not provided with a haptic
feedback function, or merely provides a sense of clicking by using a
conventional dome switch, failing to be in harmony with vibrational
tactile sense provided by the haptic feedback function for touch screen
manipulation. That is, the haptic feedback function using an operation of
a vibration motor is provided in touch screen manipulation, but the jog
dial or wheel key cannot provide the same haptic feedback function or
merely provides a sense of clicking by using a separate structure.
Further, if the jog dial or wheel key is not provided with a haptic
feedback function, a user is inconvenienced by having to intently watch
the screen to check if a desired operation is performed, when
manipulating the jog dial or wheel key.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007]The present invention is designed to address at least the above
problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages
described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the present invention is to
provide a haptic feedback device for a portable terminal, which enables a
user to recognize a manipulation state of an input member, such as a jog
dial, a wheel key, a navigation key, etc., which is separate from a touch
screen, through tactile sense.

[0008]Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a haptic
feedback device for a portable terminal, having a diverse a vibration
pattern implementing a haptic feedback function by vibrating only a part
manipulated by a user on the terminal.

[0009]In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a haptic feedback device for a portable terminal. The haptic
feedback device includes an input member installed on the portable
terminal, a vibration member installed to pass through the input member,
the vibration member providing a rotation axis of the input member, and a
piezo actuator connected to the vibration member, in which as the input
member rotates or pivots with respect to the rotation axis. The piezo
actuator is actuated to vibrate the vibration member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain
embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable terminal including a
haptic feedback device according to an embodiment of the present
invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the haptic feedback device
of the portable terminal illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a side view of the haptic feedback device of the portable
terminal illustrated in FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable terminal including a
haptic feedback device according to an embodiment of the present
invention;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portable terminal including a
haptic feedback device according to an embodiment of the present
invention;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the haptic feedback device of the
portable terminal illustrated in FIG. 5;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a view for describing an operation flow of a haptic
feedback device according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0018]FIGS. 8A through 8E illustrate vibration patterns of a haptic
feedback device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0019]Hereinafter, certain embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed
descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for
clarity and conciseness.

[0020]FIG. 1 illustrates a portable terminal 100 including a haptic
feedback device 102 according to an embodiment of the present invention,
and FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the haptic feedback device 102 illustrated
in FIG. 1.

[0021]Referring to FIG. 1, the portable terminal 100 is a touch-screen
phone including a display device 111 having a touch screen function. A
speaker device 113 and a microphone device 115 are installed in upper and
lower portions with respect to the display device 111, respectively. In
addition to the touch screen function provided through the display device
111, the portable terminal 100 includes a separate vibration motor (not
shown) that enables a user to recognize touch screen manipulation through
tactile sense.

[0022]Additionally, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the portable terminal 100 includes a haptic feedback device
102, which according to the current embodiment, includes a jog dial 121.

[0023]Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the haptic feedback device 102 includes
the jog dial 121 operating as an input member, a vibration member 123,
and a piezo actuator 125. Additionally, on the vibration member 123, a
separate stopper 127 may be installed.

[0024]The jog dial 121 is in a disc shape having a generally uniform
thickness, a portion of the circumference thereof being exposed through a
side surface of the portable terminal 100. For example, a user can adjust
the volume of sound being output from the terminal 100 or navigate a menu
or stored information by manipulating the jog dial 121. Further, if the
user views the Internet or a document using the portable terminal 100,
the user may move a cursor by manipulating the jog dial 121.

[0025]The vibration member 123 passes through the jog dial 121, such that
it supports rotation of the jog dial 121 and performs straight-line
reciprocating movement, i.e., vibration, along a rotation axis of the jog
dial 121 according to an operation of the piezo actuator 125. Optionally,
the stopper 127 is installed at an end of the vibration member 123.

[0026]The piezo actuator 125 is adhered to the other end of the vibration
member 123. Accordingly, when the piezo actuator 125 operates, the
vibration member 123 vibrates. Along with the vibration of the vibration
member 123, the jog dial 121 vibrates along its rotation axis, a movement
range thereof being limited between the piezo actuator 125 and the
stopper 127. Consequently, the vibration member 123 supports rotation of
the jog dial 121 and at the same time, guides movement of the jog dial
121 along the rotation axis.

[0027]As described above, the stopper 127 is not necessarily installed, as
the jog dial 121, when moving along its rotation axis in the terminal
100, is also held in place by a housing of the terminal 100, thus,
limiting a movement range thereof.

[0028]The piezo actuator 125 vibrates in different patterns according to a
control signal applied thereto. Because a feeling of vibration when the
jog dial 121 is interfered by the stopper 127 is different from that when
the jog dial 121 is not interfered by the stopper 127, various
vibrational tactile sensations can be provided to a user by using
interference between the stopper 127 and the jog dial 121, as well as a
vibration pattern of the piezo actuator 125. That is, if two vibrational
tactile sensations can be provided through the vibration pattern of the
piezo actuator 125, they can also be provided in each of a state in which
the stopper 127 and the jog dial 121 contact each other and a state in
which they do not contact each other.

[0029]It can be easily understood by those of ordinary skill in the art
that the position of the jog dial 121 may be adjusted between the stopper
127 and the piezo actuator 125 due to the operational characteristics of
the piezo actuator 125.

[0030]By taking advantage of the operational characteristics of the piezo
actuator 125, the jog dial 121 pressed into contact with the stopper 127,
upon occurrence of a specific event. For example, when a pull down menu
is selected using the jog dial 121, i.e., is pulled down, the piezo
actuator 125 is actuated to cause the jog dial 121 to contact the stopper
127. When the jog dial 121 comes into contact with the stopper 127, a
vibrational tactile sensation is different from that in a non-contact
state and more force will be required to rotate the jog dial 121 due to
friction between the jog dial 121 and the stopper 127. By recognizing
such a change in the vibrational tactile sensation and a need for more
force to rotate the jog dial 121, the user is able to sense that the
cursor cannot move downward any more.

[0031]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable terminal 200 including a
haptic feedback device 103 according to an embodiment of the present
invention. The portable terminal 200 has a similar structure to the
portable terminal 100 illustrated. Therefore, repeated descriptions of
the same components will be omitted below.

[0032]Referring to FIG. 4, the portable terminal 200 is different from the
portable terminal 100 in that the haptic feedback device 103 is installed
on a surface of the portable terminal 200, specifically, at a side of the
display device 111. The haptic feedback device 103 includes a wheel key
installed on a surface of the display device 111, and the wheel key is
similar to the jog dial 121. Although the jog dial 121 is exposed through
a side surface of the portable terminal 100, the wheel key of the haptic
feedback device 103 is installed such that a surface of the wheel key is
exposed on a surface of the portable terminal 200.

[0033]A vibration member, a piezo actuator, and a stopper according to the
current embodiment are identical to or at least similar to those
according to the previous embodiment, and thus a description thereof will
not be provided. However, in the haptic feedback device 103, a separate
decoration member may be attached to the wheel key to prevent the stopper
from being directly exposed to outside.

[0034]FIG. 5 illustrates a portable terminal 300 including a haptic
feedback device 302 according to an embodiment of the present invention,
and FIG. 6 illustrates the haptic feedback device 302 illustrated in FIG.
5.

[0035]Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the haptic feedback device 302 is
installed both on a side surface of the portable terminal 300 and at a
side of the display device 111, and uses a navigation key 311 as an input
member unlike in the previous embodiments. While a 2-way key is shown as
the navigation key 311 by way of example, a 4-way key commonly used in a
cellular phone may also be installed as the navigation key 311.

[0036]The haptic feedback device 302 includes a vibration member 313
passing through a central portion of the navigation key 311 in a
widthwise direction, with a stopper 317 being installed at an end of the
vibration member 313 and a piezo actuator 315 being installed at another
end of the vibration member 313. The navigation key 311 performs input
operations at both ends thereof by pivoting with respect to the vibration
member 313.

[0037]FIG. 7 is a view for describing an operation flow of a haptic
feedback device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038]Referring to FIG. 7, each haptic feedback device includes an encoder
700 and a controller 701 in addition to the aforementioned input member,
vibration member, and piezo actuator. The encoder 700 senses if the input
member, such as the jog dial, the wheel key, or the navigation key, is
manipulated. The controller 701 generates a control signal for actuating
the piezo actuator.

[0039]Upon user manipulation of the input member, the input member rotates
or pivots. The encoder 700 senses such motion of the input member, and
the controller 701 generates the control signal according to the rotation
or pivoting of the input member sensed by the encoder. As can be easily
understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, the control signal can
be set variously according to a manipulation pattern of the input member.
The control signal may be a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) signal, which
changes in pulse width along with the operation of the piezo actuator.

[0040]FIGS. 8A through 8E illustrate vibration patterns in which the piezo
actuator operates according to a control signal generated by the
controller.

[0041]Referring to FIGS. 8A through 8D, when a user contacts the input
member for manipulation, the piezo actuator continues specific vibration
or operates with regular changes in pulse width. In addition, as
illustrated in FIG. 8E, the piezo actuator may be actuated after an
elapse of a predetermined time from user contact.

[0042]As is apparent from the foregoing description, a haptic feedback
device according to the embodiments of the present invention can
independently vibrate an input member manipulated directly by a user on
the portable terminal and diversify the vibration pattern by using the
piezo actuator. Therefore, without intently watching the display device
to see if a desired operation is performed well, the user can
conveniently manipulate the input member, which is installed separately
from the touch screen, and sense if the desired operation is performed
well.

[0043]While the present invention has been shown and described with
reference to certain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made
therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as
defined by the appended claims.

[0044]For example, while the haptic feedback device installed in a
touch-screen phone has been used as an example in the detailed
embodiments of the present invention, it may also be installed in a
cellular phone not including a touch-screen.

[0045]Additionally, although the input member of the haptic feedback
devices, which are installed separately from a touch screen, have been
described by way of example in the embodiments of the present invention,
the haptic feedback device may also be installed in a numeric key, a send
key, and an end key of a general cellular phone.